Sign



y 20, 1941; R. M. BRUNER 4 2,242342 Filed April 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'INVENTOR Rea M. Brunch s May 20, 1941. R. M. BRUNER 2,242,342

SIGN

Filed April 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Rea M. Bra/ref:

A Time/v5 Y Patented May 20, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGN ' Rea M. Brunei, Houston, Tex., assignor of onethird to It. A. Kenley and Allan Murphy, both of Houston, Tex.

Application April 26, 1939, Serial No. 270,139

2 Claims.

This invention relates to signs particularly for use at street intersections, railway crossings, and other locations, for controlling traffic, and has for its principal object to provide a device of this character which is prominent and commanding in appearance.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a sign having a simple, rigid construction; to provide a sign having novel features for promoting safety and reducing crossing hazards;

to provide a sign structure in which street signs and'advertisement features are incorporated with stop and go signals; and to provide means for synchronizing illumination of the advertisement in timed relation with the stop and go signals.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details ofstructure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Fig; 1 is a perspective View of a sign constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing parts thereof in disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the sign showing the relation of the various light compartments and the arrangement of the light sources therein.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the upper portion of the sign.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of the light circuits used in connection with the sign.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a sign constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes a post 2 which may be of rectangular cross-section as shown and have a hollow, upper portion forming a vertically arranged light compartment 3.

Formed in the front and rear sides 4 and 5 of the post, in registry with the compartment 3, are elongated openings 6 and I through which sign panels 8 and 9 are illuminated. The panels 8 and 9 may be formed of translucent material having letters 10 designating the name of the street or the like at which the sign is installed- The letters Ill may be formed as an integral part of the panels which are illuminated upon energization of the light bulbs H and l2v that are conveniently supported in the light compartment. The bulbs H and I2 are carried in sockets I3 and I4 provided with reflectors i5 and [5 arranged to direct the light rays longitudinally of the compartment and through the respective panels. The panels are'retained in position over their respective openings by frames I! and I8 extending around the margins thereof and secured by suitable fastening devices such as screws l9 extending through openings 20 in the frame and into threaded'sockets 2| of the post as best shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

Carried upon the upper end of the post 2 is a rectangular box-like compartment 22. The compartment 22 substantially conforms to the thickness of the post and has its front and rear walls provided with openings 23 and 24 which are covered by panels 25 and. 26 retained by frames 21 and 28 in the same manner as the post panels previously described. These panels are also preferably of translucent material and have lettering or other designations therein as indicated at 29 to, form an advertisement.

The compartments 22 and 3 communicate through an opening 30 normally closed by a plate 3i which may be utilized as a support in carrying the upper lamp H. Located in therespective corners of the compartment '22 are light bulbs 32, 33, 34 and 35 carried in sockets similar to those previously described. The light rays from the lamps are directed through the respective panels by substantially trough-shaped reflectors 36 and 31 extending vertically of the side walls 38. of the compartment as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Supported on the top of the compartment 22 is a compartment 39 having fiat front walls 40 and 4| provided with circular openings 42 and 43. The side walls 44 and 45 preferably curve upwardly and inwardly from points spaced from the side walls of the compartment 22 as best shown in Fig. 3, the upper edges of the respective walls being shaped to conform to the contained angle of a cross-like compartment 46, later described.

The openings 42 and 43 are covered by lensshaped panels 41 and 48 formed of translucent material in the manner of the lenses of an ordinary stop light and carry the word go. These panels are preferably green in color to conform with standard traffic signals. The lenses are secured over the openings by circular frames 49 and 50 retained in position similarly to the other panels previously described.

Supported in the compartment 39, in the apex thereof, is a light socket 5| carrying an electric bulb 52 for illuminating the go lenses, (the rays from the bulb being directed against the lenses and 64 secured by fastening devices similarly'to.

the other frames. Supported in the ends of the respective arms are sockets 66 carrying light bulbs 61, 68, B9 and 10 respectively to illuminate the designations stop on the-respective CIOSSjshaped lenses as shown in Fig. 1,-

In Fig. '7 I have illustrated the circuit for the respective light bulbs. The circuit includes main.-

go lights now in use. The advertisement letters are therefore preferably of amber color since they serve the purpose of the warning light of a standard signal. The same may be true of the lamp bulbs illuminating the street signs or the street signs may be operated continuously. In the latter instance they are preferably of different color, for example yellow.

From the foregoing it is obvious'that I have provided a traflilc sign which is of prominent and commanding appearance, of strong, rigid con- 'struction, and well suited for safety purposes. It

is also obvious that I have provided a combination traffic control signalstreet and advertising conductors 1| and I2 leading from a source of current supply such as a service connectionyif one is available, or from a battery where the sig nal is located in remote places. The main conductor 12 connects with one of the terminals of all of the light bulbs, however, the conductor H connects with conductors 13, 14, 15 and 16- through single pole magnetic switches 11, 18, 19 and 80 respectively. The conductor 13 is connected with the other terminals of the lamp bulbs H and I2 which illuminate the street signs. The conductor 14 connects with the other terminals of the light bulbs 32, 33, 34 and 35 which illuminate the sign compartment. The conductor 15 connects with the other terminal of the light bulb 52 illuminating the go compartment, and the conductor 16 connects with the other terminals of the light bulbs 51, 68, 69 and I0 illuminating the cross-shaped stop panels. The switches 11, 18, 19 and are activated by circuits including separate lines BI, 82, 83 and.

including a common line 85 which connect with a standard municipal orother controlled traflic system, or a suitable individual, automatic timing switch as indicated by the housing 86; The circuits may be so timed'that the -st0p and go are rendered alternately effective and may be timed for intervals depending upon the extent of traffic at the corner at which the signal is located. The circuits which connect with the lamp bulbs illuminating the advertising signcompartment may be connected to be. energized during the interval between changes of the stop and go signals in the same manner. as conventional warning signals commonly employed in connection with the customary stop and sign wherein the sign feature is coordinate with the stop-and go signals without interference with the effectiveness thereof.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sign of the character described, a post, a housing supported by the upper end of said post having circular openings on opposite'sides thereof, panels covering said circular openings adapted to carry indicia representing a traflic signal, an X-shaped housing mounted on the upper end of the housing which has the circular openings, said first named housing being connected'with a pair of arms of said X-shaped housing and being arranged within the contained angle of said. arms, said X-shaped housing having openings. on opposite sides thereon-panels the openings, said first named housing being connected with apair of arms of said X-shaped housing and being arranged within the contained angle of said arms, said X-shaped housing having openings on opposite sides thereof, panels covering the openings in said X-shaped housing adapted to carry indicia representing a traffic signal related to the first named trafiic signal, and

' means for illuminating said panels at predetermined intervals relative to each other.

REA M. BRUNER. 

